TODAY’S VERSE: ROMANS 10:20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
REVELATION:
How Great Thou Art. Observing the wonders of God's creation brings perspective to the mind and refreshment to the soul. It also reminds us of God's eternal power and divine nature, as today's verse reveals.
When I was little, my younger brother Freddy and my cousins and I always visited my maternal grandparents during school breaks. This was an occasion we always anticipated with joy, because at our grandparents' house it seemed there were no rules - for example, we were allowed to play till all hours, and sleep late in the morning. It was a place where we had nothing but fun.
In the evenings after we had taken our bath and eaten dinner, we would all gather on the front porch. There we sang, played, talked and told stories together. On one of those delightful nights, our grandfather, Mzee Makoba, was telling us stories about nature - how plants get their food, how caterpillars become butterflies, and so on. I can't recall most of my grandfather's stories in great detail, but I will always remember one in particular.
That night we were lying on our backs, gazing up at the sky with our hands clasped behind our heads, and we started talking about the stars and the planets. In describing the ways of the universe to us, my grandfather said, "The earth moves, and that's why we have night and day." I found this idea tremendously amusing. "The earth moves?!" I exclaimed at my grandfather, in disbelief. I remember taking off my sandals, standing up, and listening attentively as I pressed my foot hard against the floor of the porch, trying to feel the movement of the earth - but of course I felt nothing. Nevertheless, that night I was the last one to go to sleep, because I kept staring up at the sky and studying the stars. My grandfather's tales had made me stop and think about the wonders of God's creation.
As I got older, my sense of wonder faded away. I grew accustomed to God's wonders, and began to take them for granted, as most of us do. Sadly, sometimes we may even start questioning His very existence. Today's verse clearly reminds us that the natural beauty of the world is a sign of God's invisible qualities - His eternal power
and His divine nature - so when we look at His creation, we can recognize who He is.
Dear Reader, when was the last time you stopped and admired a wildflower, watched the sunset, or enjoyed the view from atop a high hill? This week I encourage you to slow down and find time to enjoy God's creation. To show your appreciation of God, you can start by putting your trust in Jesus Christ. I encourage you to accept Him as your Savior by confessing that He is Lord, and to believe in your heart that He died on the cross and was raised from the dead so that you could be saved.
PRAYER:
O Lord, My Heavenly Father, I thank You for sharing a fragment of Your glory with us here on earth, through the vast panorama of Your creation. For the mountains, the oceans, the valleys, the rain, the moon, the sun, the trees, the animals, the stars, the sky, the wind and so many other things. God, I thank You for all of Your creation, and for including me in it. In Jesus' name, I give thanks. Amen.
APPLICATION:
Take time this week to go for a walk and enjoy the beauty of nature, and to meditate on God's creation. Perhaps you can watch a TV documentary about the natural world. You can also visit an online ministry called Creation Moments , which presents information about different aspects of creation. Hearing or reading about the wonders of the universe will stimulate your appreciation of God's great works.
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